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Top prospect Buxton makes return to Class A

2014 MLB.com Top Prospects: Byron Buxton is a five-tool center fielder who will play all of 2014 at the age of 20

By Rhett Bollinger
/
MLB.com |

MINNEAPOLIS -- Top prospect Byron Buxton made his return to Class A Advanced Fort Myers on Sunday afternoon after missing nearly two months with an injured left wrist.

Buxton went 0-for-2 with a flyout and a groundout. He also played three innings in center field before coming out of the game, as the Twins plan to take it easy with Buxton in his first few games back.

Buxton, ranked as the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB.com, originally sprained his left wrist while diving for a fly ball in the outfield in mid-March during a Minor League Spring Training game.

He returned to action in early May but reinjured his wrist on a slide on May 8 and was held out of action for nearly two months. But Buxton has been ramping up his activities recently and was cleared by the medical staff to make his long-awaited return on Sunday.

Buxton could make the jump to Double-A New Britain if he performs well at Fort Myers and also remains likely to play in the Arizona Fall League after the season to help make up for the time he missed due to injury.

"He's ready to go," Twins general manager Terry Ryan said. "I envision him going out and taking the post with the Miracle and then we'll see what happens. Hopefully, he's productive and does a nice job and then we can get him to the next level."

Buxton, 20, hit .150 (3-for-20) with a double, a homer and two RBIs in five games with Fort Myers earlier this season before the injury. He hit a combined .334/.424/.520 with 12 homers, 18 triples, 19 doubles, 55 stolen bases, 77 RBIs and 109 runs in 125 games with Class A Cedar Rapids and Fort Myers last season.